Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerRutgers linebacker Steve Beauharnais had nine tackles, two sacks and an interception in Saturday's win at Syracuse.

STOCK UP

Steve BeauharnaisRutgers linebacker
Saddle Brook native and St. Joseph’s High product had nine tackles, two sacks and an interception in a 19-16 double-overtime victory at Syracuse. Intercepted a pass on final Orange drive of the fourth quarter and returned it 44 yards to set up potential game-winning FG, which missed wide left.

Ray GrahamPittsburgh running back
Ran for 226 yards and two TDs on 26 carries and had four catches for 42 yards in 44-17 rout of South Florida. Named Walter Camp National Player of the Week and Big East Offensive Player of the Week. Ranks third in nation in rushing with 146.8 ypg, amassing 734 total rushing yards (most in Division 1) and eight TDs.

Dustin GarrisonWest Virginia running back
Freshman ran for 291 yards — third-most in Big East history — and two TDs on 32 carries in 55-10 smackdown of Bowling Green.

STOCK DOWN

Connecticut Defense
Unit entered the weekend ranked 12th in the nation in scoring defense (13.5 ppg) and 14th in total defense (272.0 ypg) but was shredded by Western Michigan QB Alex Carder, who threw for 479 yards and five TDs (career-highs) in 38-31 victory over Huskies.

Ryan NassibSyracuse quarterback
Completed 15 of 32 passes for 169 yards and three interceptions (one in the end zone) in loss to Rutgers. Senior entered the game with a sizzling 71.4 completion percentage.

Teddy BridgewaterLouisville quarterback
Freshman threw two fourth-quarter interceptions in a 17-14 loss to a struggling Marshall (2-3) team in his first collegiate start.

LOOK AHEAD TO WEEK 6

Connecticut at West VirginiaThe skinny: Mountaineers finally have a running game (see freshman Dustin Garrison in Stock Up) to complement their explosive passing game led by QB Geno Smith. Looks like a long afternoon for UConn defense that was torn apart by Western Michigan QB Alex Carder last week. Sat., noon

Louisville at North CarolinaThe skinny: Freshman QB Teddy Bridgewater, who struggled in a loss to Marshall last week, takes a huge step up incompetition. Tar Heels (4-1) are led by QB Bryn Renner, who threw four TDs in a 35-20 win vs. East Carolina, and RB Giovani Bernard, who rushed for 146 yards and a TD. Sat., noon

Syracuse at TulaneThe skinny: Look for the Orange to take out frustrations of double-overtime loss to Rutgers on a weak Tulane (2-3) squad, which suffered a 45-6 beatdown by Army last week. Sat., 8 p.m.

BYE

CincinnatiNext game: Oct. 15 vs. Louisville

South FloridaNext game: Oct. 15 at Connecticut

POWER RANKINGS

1. West Virginia (4-1, 0-0 in Big East)
No. 16/19 Mountaineers remain the class of the Big East, year in and year out. Commissioner John Marinatto had better be doing everything in his power to keep West Virginia in the Big East. If not for their small TV market, Mountaineers would’ve probably bolted long ago.

2. Cincinnati (4-1, 0-0)
Defense is humming, holding Miami (Ohio) to -3 yards rushing in a 27-0 victory a week after limiting NC State to -26 yards on the ground in a 44-14 shellacking. Unit is tied with Rutgers for most takeaways in the nation (18). Offensively, Cincinnati ranks ninth in nation in scoring (45.0 ppg).

3. Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-0)
Panthers have tons of talent but are maddeningly inconsistent from quarter to quarter, let alone game to game. They crushed then-No. 16 ranked and undefeated South Florida, 44-17 on Saturday, and have near-victories over Iowa (blowing a 17-point fourth-quarter lead) and Notre Dame — losing 15-12.

4. South Florida (4-1, 0-1)
After easy victories over three straight overmatched opponents, Bulls come up small against Pittsburgh on national television. Season-opening victory over Notre Dame still earns USF a measure of respect.

5. Rutgers (3-1, 1-0)
Coach Greg Schiano’s new-look defense, with an emphasis on speed and athleticism, is playing lights out and special teams are coming up big while the offense continues to try to find its way. Defense had five takeaways and special teams blocked two kicks in victory over Syracuse.

6. Syracuse (3-2, 0-1)
Orange had offensive meltdown in 19-16 double-OT loss to Rutgers. Syracuse had five turnovers vs. Scarlet Knights after totaling four in the first four games. Three of the Orange first five games have gone into overtime (2-1).

7. Connecticut (2-3, 0-0)
Perhaps finally settling on a quarterback, Huskies’ John McEntee threw for 300 yards and four TDs (career-highs) but highly-respected defense gave up 21 fourth-quarter points in a 38-31 loss to Western Michigan.

8. Louisville (2-2, 0-0)
Cardinals suffer second embarrassing home loss to a non-AQ opponent, losing 17-14 to Marshall. In Week 2, they were defeated by Florida International. Louisville leads the nation in tackles-for-loss but the offense has scored just 17 points in the second-half all season.